Join us, not in the pursuit of answers, but in the pursuit of asking great questions.

Why do students choose Philosophy and Religious Studies at Franklin College?

• Philosophy majors can debate with the best of them. Perhaps more than any other academic discipline, philosophy trains students to develop thought-provoking, reasonable, arguments while also helping students recognize the faults in others’ positions. Philosophy students are particularly skilled at seeing social issues from a variety of different perspectives as they develop their lines of argumentation. A truly a valuable skill for any career!
• Philosophy majors score consistently high on the LSAT entrance exams for law school. A major component of the LSAT exam includes logical reasoning, a topic which is a consistent theme throughout the philosophy curriculum at Franklin College. Students who take philosophy courses usually score higher on their LSAT exams than those who don’t.
• Philosophy majors know how to apply the study of ethics in the real world. Questions of morality never go out of style. Yet, it is often difficult to find an individual who can discuss ethical issues with more than an opinionated response. Philosophy majors are trained to apply different ethical theories to everyday situations so that students can argue what the best, “moral” choice is in a given situation. Some of our strongest philosophy students have gone to have careers in business, insurance, and financial advising.
• Philosophy majors receive an individualized education. Because the requirements for a major or minor in philosophy are so flexible, we are able to work one-on-one with students to cultivate personal learning experiences based upon student interests. Many of our students double-major in another academic discipline; as such, we work to integrate independent studies, senior projects, and internships to include both philosophy and a student’s other major to make them more marketable post-graduation.

Our mission is to transform students into global citizens who can critically examine life’s deepest questions from multiple perspectives, including one’s own values and those of their surrounding society, by working collaboratively and creatively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Both philosophy and religious studies programs at Franklin College are rooted within a liberal arts tradition that pushes students to closely study their own beliefs and values, as well as appreciate the diverse perspectives of other cultures, philosophies, and religious traditions. Yet more than this, students in these programs learn about themselves and others through service learning projects, exciting internships, and study abroad opportunities.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Graduates will be able to consider competing perspectives on controversial social issues using figures and theories within their academic discipline. (philosophy or religious studies)
• Graduates will be able to collaborate with others from diverse backgrounds to propose ways of addressing complex social issues.
• Graduates will be able to clearly articulate how norms of power and value are realized in themselves and in society.